Long ago, an orphanage was built upon a sacred, fey-touched grove devoted to Eirathis, Goddess of Protection and Sanctuary. For decades, children came and went under the care of the matron, Kazella, a devoted servant of Eirathis, until one day she wandered beyond the grove and never returned.
In her place, a hag arrived, disguised as the matron. At that time, five children remained in the orphanage. The hag tormented them, feeding on their fear as the grove slowly began to wither. However, the grove’s enchantment grew stronger and surged forth to protect them. Its magic bound each child to a tree in a nearby clearing, preserving their lives and transforming them into dryads.
Enraged, the hag set fire to the grove in an attempt to destroy the magic. The forest resisted and turned the flames back upon her. The fire spread and trapped her within the orphanage, which burned to the ground with her inside. Her charred remains still lie within the ruins.
The children remain bound to the trees, content to have found a home in the grove as dryads.
At the center of the grove floats a rare magical ring, the Ring of the Dryad. It once belonged to Kazella and was taken by the hag after her disappearance. After the hag’s death, the grove reclaimed the ring and placed it under the protection of the children. Only the five dryads can release it. Perhaps they can be bargained with in return for something they value from their previous lives.
Bargaining Dryads Puzzle – Details
Puzzle Author: Wally DM
Difficulty: Average
Puzzle Type: Investigation / Lateral Thinking / Lock & Key
Recommended Locations: Dungeon, Forest, Park, City
Published Dates: 2026 (Wally DM Patreon – Written), 2026 (Wally DM YouTube – Video)
📚 Published 2026: Wally DM Patreon
